Seychelles

Human Rights

Since 1977 Seychelles has been an authoritarian,
one-party,
socialist state. In 1979 the government adopted a new
constitution that failed to provide for basic human
rights, but
instead includes them in a preamble as a goal of the
Seychellois
people. René has also intimidated dissidents and opponents
by
threatening to invoke the Public Security Act, which
allows for
indefinite detention in security cases. Moreover, he often
exiles
opponents or orders the confiscation of their property.
Over the
years, numerous credible reports indicate that the police
beat
prisoners. Invariably, the government dismisses complaints
against police officers charged with such practices. By
the early
1990s, the Seychellois human rights record had improved
somewhat
as the government adopted a less belligerent attitude
toward
dissidents and opposition groups.